New byelaws would make our green spaces quieter
Tuesday, 31st August 2010.
Persistent shouting or singing in Haverhill churchyard could soon land you with a fine.
Over 30 open areas in Haverhill will be subject to a set of new byelaws restricting the behaviour of people using them, if a council proposal goes ahead.
Currently only Recreation Ground is subject to byelaws, which were created in 1959 and are now considered antiquated anyway.
These will be revoked, along with similar ones governing Bury's Abbey Gardens and Nowton Park, and in their place St Edmundsbury Borough Council plans to put new byelaws which will cover all parks, greens and open spaces of any size which the council controls.
The new byelaws will continue prohibitions such as camping, overnight parking and starting fires, but will add new ones covering games and sports and behaviour.
Only under 14s will be allowed to use designated play equipment, or enter play areas unless in the course of looking after an under 14-year-old.
There will be restrictions to prevent ball games of all kinds except cricket.
Behaviour will be covered under a byelaw which says: "No person shall, after being requested to desist by any other person in the ground, make or permit to be made any noise which is so loud or so continuous or repeated as to give reasonable cause for annoyance to other persons in the ground by: (a) shouting or singing; (b) playing on a musical instrument; or (c) by operating or permitting to be operated any radio, amplifier, tape recorder or similar device."
The only exemption is for public events put on with the council's permission.
The proposals, put forward to the council's policy development committee tomorrow, are 'not intended to be used to stop people of all ages having fun and enjoying our parks to the full, but are tools which will enable us to deal with those whose activities annoy or upset other park users,' a report to members says.
Spaces in Haverhill which would come under the new byelaws are:
Allington Walk Rec (also known as Parkway Rec) Areoplane Park (also known as Quendon open space)
Argyll Court open space
Beaumont Vale open space
Bergamot Road open space (inc Bramley Road play area)
Castle Playing Fields (inc Chimswell Woods)
Chalkstone Playing Fields
Chimswell Way open space
Chivers Road Pond
East Town Park (inc Motts Field)
Emperors Green
Forest Glade open space
Recreation Ground
Henry Close open space
Hopton Rise open space
Howard Close Pond
Howe Road open space
Ingham Road open space(also known as Strasburg Square)
Julian Close Recreation Ground
Langham Way open space
Lowry Close open space
Meadowlands open space (inc Alderton Close play area & Halesbarn Road play area)
Millfields Way open space
Minster Road open space
Monarch Close Pond
Osprey Road open space
Puddlebrook Playing Fields
Railway Walk
Rowell Road open space
Seymore Drive open space
St Marys Churchyard & Civic Space
West Town Park (also known as Meldham Washlands) Wortham Place open space
York Road play area.
Over 30 open areas in Haverhill will be subject to a set of new byelaws restricting the behaviour of people using them, if a council proposal goes ahead.
Currently only Recreation Ground is subject to byelaws, which were created in 1959 and are now considered antiquated anyway.
These will be revoked, along with similar ones governing Bury's Abbey Gardens and Nowton Park, and in their place St Edmundsbury Borough Council plans to put new byelaws which will cover all parks, greens and open spaces of any size which the council controls.
The new byelaws will continue prohibitions such as camping, overnight parking and starting fires, but will add new ones covering games and sports and behaviour.
Only under 14s will be allowed to use designated play equipment, or enter play areas unless in the course of looking after an under 14-year-old.
There will be restrictions to prevent ball games of all kinds except cricket.
Behaviour will be covered under a byelaw which says: "No person shall, after being requested to desist by any other person in the ground, make or permit to be made any noise which is so loud or so continuous or repeated as to give reasonable cause for annoyance to other persons in the ground by: (a) shouting or singing; (b) playing on a musical instrument; or (c) by operating or permitting to be operated any radio, amplifier, tape recorder or similar device."
The only exemption is for public events put on with the council's permission.
The proposals, put forward to the council's policy development committee tomorrow, are 'not intended to be used to stop people of all ages having fun and enjoying our parks to the full, but are tools which will enable us to deal with those whose activities annoy or upset other park users,' a report to members says.
Spaces in Haverhill which would come under the new byelaws are:
Allington Walk Rec (also known as Parkway Rec) Areoplane Park (also known as Quendon open space)
Argyll Court open space
Beaumont Vale open space
Bergamot Road open space (inc Bramley Road play area)
Castle Playing Fields (inc Chimswell Woods)
Chalkstone Playing Fields
Chimswell Way open space
Chivers Road Pond
East Town Park (inc Motts Field)
Emperors Green
Forest Glade open space
Recreation Ground
Henry Close open space
Hopton Rise open space
Howard Close Pond
Howe Road open space
Ingham Road open space(also known as Strasburg Square)
Julian Close Recreation Ground
Langham Way open space
Lowry Close open space
Meadowlands open space (inc Alderton Close play area & Halesbarn Road play area)
Millfields Way open space
Minster Road open space
Monarch Close Pond
Osprey Road open space
Puddlebrook Playing Fields
Railway Walk
Rowell Road open space
Seymore Drive open space
St Marys Churchyard & Civic Space
West Town Park (also known as Meldham Washlands) Wortham Place open space
York Road play area.
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)